{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1649856"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1649856/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB4943/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB4943/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB4943","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1649856","accessionNumber":"T.20:1&2-2026","objectType":"Pair of boots","titles":[{"title":"Winged Boots","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Tommy Roberts and his business partner Trevor Myles opened ‘Mr Freedom’ at 430 King's Road in 1969; it later moved to a bigger space on Kensington Church Street in 1970. The shop sold mainly unisex clothing alongside interior design and homewares. It was a key establishment in London’s boutique shopping scene of the 1960s and 1970s. Grange’s winged boots, designed by Jim O’Connor for Mr Freedom are an iconic item  from the flamboyant brand which was known for offering a ‘glam’, pop-culture-inspired alternative to the hippy movement. A silver pair of the winged boots was famously worn by Elton John during his American debut at the Troubadour club in August 1970, together with a Mr Freedom full dungaree ensemble, and John became a regular buyer in the shop. \n\nThe V&A has a significant collection of Mr Freedom designs which were donated by Roberts for the exhibition Fashion : An Anthology By Cecil Beaton in 1971. This includes a pair of winged boots in blue and yellow (T.709-1974). As the items in Beaton exhibition, including the boots, were unworn they provide little insight into the clientele of Mr freedom. \n\nThe former wearer of these boots, industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange CBE RDI (1929-2024), was a key figure in post-war British design and is represented in the V&A’s collections by his archive in the AAD, works on paper and many domestic design items including an instant camera (CIRC.124-1965), a Kenwood mixer (CIRC.731-1968) and an electric razor (CIRC.132-1965). Grange’s work was the subject of an exhibition at the V&A Boilerhouse in 1983, and he was a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art for nearly 20 years. Grange was known for paired-back, user-centric designs. His remodelling of the InterCity 125 high speed train for British Rail (launched in 1976) with its aerodynamic shape is considered an icon of locomotive design. In 1972 he co-founded the interdisciplinary design consultancy Pentagram. \r\n\nIn the 1960s and 1970s Grange was a stylish and modern dresser buying from leading menswear retailers of the period including Just Men, Burberry and Mr Freedom. \r\n","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Jim O'Connor","id":"A20940"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Mr Freedom","id":"A4619"},"association":{"text":"designed for","id":"x41471"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"rubber","id":"AAT12941"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2021NB4943"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES327501"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES327501"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Boots","id":"AAT46057"}],[{"text":"Boots","id":"AAT46057"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1970","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1970-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sir Kenneth Grange","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"These boots were owned by industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange CBE RDI (1929-2024) who was a key figure in post-war British design known for paired-back, user-centric designs. A silver pair of the same deisgn were worn by Elton John during his American debut at the Troubadour club in August 1970, together with a Mr Freedom full dungaree ensemble. ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pair of 'Winged Boots', leather  in red and orange, Jim O’Connor for Mr Freedom, London, 1970","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Jim O'Connor designed these boots for London clothing boutique Mr Freedom established in 1969 by Tommy Roberts and his business partner Trevor Myles","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Kenneth Grange","id":"A6053"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.20:1-2026","T.20:2-2026"],"accessionNumberNum":"20","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2026,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-24","recordCreationDate":"2021-08-10","availableToBook":false}}